Troopers foil NPA attack on relief goods

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Army troopers prevented suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas from taking away truckloads of relief goods intended for victims of Typhon Ulysses in Quezon province on Sunday.

An encounter erupted between the rebels and the troopers at past 9 a.m. in Barangay Pagsangahan, General Nakar, according to Maj. Gen. Greg Almerol, chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division.

“These armed opportunists engaged by the soldiers were on their way to beg food from the villagers as they were also affected by the recent typhoons. We could have given them relief goods if they asked for it, instead of compelling the poor and typhoon-hit villagers to provide for them,” Almerol said.

He said the rebels’ assault on soldiers and humanitarian workers solidifies the truth that the NPAs are terrorists and not pro-people.

“We are helping our fellowmen affected by the recent typhoons and yet these rebels wanted to grab the relief assistance intended for these poor people,” Almerol said.

On Thursday, soldiers of the Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion conducting relief operations in Macalelon town were also assaulted by the guerrillas.